Jun 29, 2015

1. I'm ADDICTED to the HGTV series, Fixer Upper!
We don't have cable, and don't really have time to watch TV regularly, so we are thrilled to have two full seasons to watch.
... now all we need is a house...

2. We were very busy in the month of June. Surprisingly busy.
Thankfully, some of that busy required us to spend some quality time with family and friends—including our landlord! She rented a cottage for a few weeks and invited us to come and spend some time with her there. We had a great time, and as a bonus Hubbard was able to fish his little heart out!

3. June has been a very active month for my little store! So thrilled!
I expected the official start of wedding season to slow my business down (nobody's buying invitations when their wedding is within the week/month), but my personalized gifts/anniversary items have been flying off the shelves! Lots of fun with custom portraits and calligraphy hearts—and of course, some day of designs as well.

4. This past weekend has provided a few more opportunities for us to relax at home. I've been very busy with orders and cleaning, but there's a difference between doing it from home rather than trying to keep up as you are traveling.
It has just been a breath.of.fresh.air.

5. If you haven't joined my newsletter, then be sure to do so—I'm excited to be hosting a discount code for my Etsy store in the next month, as well as release the new July desktop calendar soon!

Jun 22, 2015

This is just a quick cool down from the other night. I was working on so many projects, and sometimes stopping and going straight to bed/life leaves my head spinning and I can't mentally "leave" the project(s). So if I'm having trouble, I do a quick cool down. Then I get bored and resume normal life.

Jun 19, 2015

I've added a few new printables in the shop! I've had this in the works for a couple of months, but I just have not had the time to get my thoughts past the notebook in my purse.

UNTIL NOW!

I did a quick sketch over the weekend and shared it on my personal instagram to get a feel for how it would be received by "the public". And I was excited to see that my instinct about design/general idea was correct!
So I set to work. I was out of town earlier this week, but I was able to dedicate my Wednesday afternoon making a few trial designs and setting up some mocks for you all:

Of course, I had to include a favorite story book couples...
and, well, somebody is re-reading Anne of Green Gables this summer. I
won't name names.

(ps. Todd just read the above over my shoulder and was slightly offended that he and I are not my favorite "story book" couple. Of course, I assured him
that after he wrote the thrilling novela about us, I would be sure to
make a switch. But until then... Team Gilbert)

You also have the option to include leaf and/or floral accents to your print—or the simple black and white names. After making a floral version for the hubbard and I, I am getting excited to print it off and hang it in our little abode.
Because, even though we're not in a story book—we're still my favorite couple ;)

Order your own here! They're $20 for the month of June, but the price will be going up in July!

Jun 17, 2015

Throughout
the week make a quick sketch of what I am wearing on that particular
day, either as a warm-up or just to keep me loose if I don't have a lot
of time to draw. These drawings are then scanned and posted on my blog
every Wednesday. Again, nothing finished or professional, but something that I have fun with. Hope you enjoy!

This past week I have basically lived in athletic gear.
So.Not.Complaining.
Not only because school is out (and thus, all things uniform and professional have taken the back seat), but my husband and I (+ sis-in-law for a few days) also put on our annual day camp for the school's Cross Country program. While we have an overnight camp for the high school team, we encourage interest at a young age and spent some time with 3rd-8th graders. We always have a lot of fun, and it's nice to do something a little different.

However, I am looking forward to a week off of school related activities! It's time to put more focus onto the blog and shop, and I can't wait to show you the new items that I will be adding to the shop soon

Like what you see? Get your own custom, illustrative portrait for your home or blog here!

Jun 15, 2015

I recently finished a custom portrait for this lovely couple, as they celebrate their 10th anniversary!

I illustrate a lot of first year anniversaries (traditionally a "paper" gift), but it is always fun to have a couple who has been through a few more years together. A marriage that continues to say "I do" to the other, and "no" to self.

Jun 12, 2015

One of the frustrating parts of designing for my own business is that there is a lot of trial and error that goes into the every day. You think you're on the right track, you walk away from it or ask a friend's advice and just like that: the perfection that was staring you right in the face a minute ago is gone!

Here's an example of this type of frustration—the "Gypsy Lace" Wedding suite.

While I was still in the beginning states, I thought I had hit upon a real winner! So boho, so trendy! Loved the watercolor accents, and it would be easy for me to adjust the color balance to fit any bride's preferences.
I even went so far as to have the mocks made up (above), but upon revealing the design to friends and family, I found a similar response from all of them.

A resounding "eh"

Yikes. It's not the style that I typically follow, so maybe that is why it did not receive the response that I expected, but I was disappointed.
Needless to say, this little gypsy has not made her debut until now and will likely remain out of the shop until further notice.

Jun 11, 2015

Throughout
the week make a quick sketch of what I am wearing on that particular
day, either as a warm-up or just to keep me loose if I don't have a lot
of time to draw. These drawings are then scanned and posted on my blog
every Wednesday. Again, nothing finished or professional, but something that I have fun with. Hope you enjoy!

It has been a BUSY couple of weeks, and my sketchbook has felt the neglect. With the end of the school year comes a lot of fun, but a lot of extra work as we try to finish everything up and get those kiddos out of the door!
More next week

Like what you see? Get your own custom, illustrative portrait for your home or blog here!

Jun 8, 2015

Have you seen the new "Midnight Romance" collection in the shop?
Voted on by you! So you know it's a real winner!

I did not have mockups of the program(s) when I posted the big reveal, so I thought I would take some time and share that with you now. I just love how different this set is with the dark background. It has a totally different feel to it and I find that so exciting!

All of my designs come with 2 major program layout options: one is long a slim, designed to be double sided, but is definitely a classy layout. The second is also front and back but much more traditional in size, though the silhouettes spice things up a little bit and add some variety. You can check back here for some examples of how I would prepare the programs.

Otherwise, seeing that you're still here, why don't you check out the entire set and let me know what you think??

Jun 5, 2015

Just a quick stop by today to share another new instant download with you all!

This is an easy, affordable way to surprise and ask your wedding-party-members-to-be (??? too long? I challenge you to think of a shorter description) to stand by you on your big day!
So, to all of my lovely bride-to-bes, feel free to head on over and consider the hard task of "asking beautifully" over!

While "boho" is not my personal style, I am loving it from a designers perspective! And even more when I have the opportunity to throw some paint around for it. I hand watercolored these desert inspired wreaths a few weeks ago and have just been TOO busy to do anything about it.

But now that school is out, grades are in, track is over, and that pile of laundry is seriously considering folding itself (wouldn't that be nice), I should be back on the normal creating/posting schedule!

And don't think you've seen the last of this painting session! More bright-desert-boho-watercolors are coming your way shortly! Until then, enjoy this new design ;)

Jun 1, 2015

May was a good month, a crazy busy month, but a good month.
However, the crazy has given me a reason to be thankful for the break that summer brings to our schedule. But first, we need to work through the last week of school, a week of day camps, a week of bus training / girl's outing and a day or two at family camp.

Ah yes, the wonderful "break" that summer brings! hah

To celebrate this wonderful new month, I have a new design to dress up your tech a bit.
And it's FREE!

Now, I'm a cleeean inbox freak, so I promise that I won't spam you constantly—probably 2 emails a month! It's just a way that I can keep you up to date on monthly calendars and coupon codes for my little store, updates to the business and other freebies.